Ghost. {Sabo x Reader}

How Ghosts Cry.

"So...what did you two discuss with Thatch?" The pinkette inquires whilst pouring Sabo a cup of tea in addition now that the boy has relaxed a little in her presence. 

"Hm...not much really. I'm trying to get in contact with Ace, so we asked Thatch for help with that and I also wanted him to stop feeling sad about what happened to me so, I told him that I'm okay..." Sabo informs, glancing at you as if he was asking for your confirmation on what he was saying, which you simply grant by nodding your head subtly.

His story seems about right to you. 

"Could it be possible that you wanted to reassure him that you were okay because you know that somewhere inside, he blames himself for your death?" Her question causes Sabo to tense once again as a shudder racks his spine, you notice him shiver just slightly before he nods his head. "I see...that's your spirit being sated."

Huh?

"Let me explain," The lady now shifting a little in her seat as her brows knit together and her eyes focus on the ground whilst she silently gathers her thoughts before continuing. "When we die, we can feel certain energies around us and sometimes, our spirits will link to those energies - especially if those energies are expressing extreme guilt and if you care about the person feeling that level of pain..." 

"So, I linked to Thatch?"

"No, not exactly. You've made peace with Thatch yet your spirit is still here, you wish to make peace with another brother...maybe even all of them. There was an emotion the night you died that was so strong, apart of your soul knew it couldn't leave, that it had to fix the pain before departing. And that is why your ghost was trapped here." She explains to the best of her abilities, nibbling her lip briefly before she adds; "I know you don't want to leave now and I do not doubt that you've fallen in love with [F/n], but your ghost linked to her because your spirit knew it needed her help."

"What are you trying to imply? I'm not using my girlf--!"

"I know you aren't. Your spirit will often act in subconscious ways that you wouldn't usually consider, because although you don't think you want to leave, your soul disagrees." Despite the sense she's making, her words only make Sabo irritably grit his teeth as he glares at the lady and although her explanation hurts for you to hear, in a way it's a comfort, Sabo will never leave you...well, not by choice at least. "Sabo, you died a long time ago and it was in your dying moments, your conscience made a decision to save your brothers from their own torment. That was the last real wish you made, your dying wish, once it's granted...you cannot stay in limbo like this. Your spirit will move on."

The blonde for once doesn't argue on this, mainly due to the fact that he's quite choked up. His hands are trying to grip onto the chair's arm for support but his limbs just go straight through the furniture, only seeming to make his pain worse. 

"Then I won't please my spirit!" He stubbornly spits, his arms trembling but when you try to comfort him, your hand passes through him once again so you have to hold his face instead, your warm hand resting against his pale cheek as a single tear rolls down to your skin, the wetness is just as chilly as the rest of his body. 

"It's okay, Sabo...I understand. I'm not upset." Yes, you're lying through your teeth but you can't let him suffer through this, all his spirit wanted was to make sure his siblings don't blame themselves for his demise. It's important to him, you can't let him just disregard it. "I want your brothers to be happy, don't you want that too?"

The blonde stiffens with your question, taking a moment before finally, he shakes his head. "Not at your expense."

"But with that logic, my happiness will be at their expense. I don't want that."

"And I don't want to leave you!" The blonde blurts as tears fall from his eyes, his attention snapping toward Perona as she watches with a saddened expression. "What about Hawk-eyes? You said he went through something similar, how he did he manage it?!"

That question causes the girl's eyes to widen briefly, her lips clamping together as her dark orbs twinkle in the light, as if she was fighting back her own tears. "He...had to let go." Her voice suddenly so much softer as she rises to her feet, making her way over to the large window and looking out at her husband as he tends to the garden, following her gaze you only now notice all the beautiful flowers and shrubs decorating the backyard. "It destroyed him but...I knew his pain. If Sabo appeases his spirit and moves on after completing his wish, [F/n], surround yourself with his family - they will know how much it hurts and will know how to support you. Mihawk had nobody other than I, don't let your grieving process be so lonely..." 

Damn...now I feel awful for calling him Dracula.

"What happened to her? His daughter, I mean." Sabo questions as he watches the male through the window, it would seem that the boy also feels somewhat guilty, probably due to Ace kicking a ball at her as a child - not that such a small incident should really matter but that's the thing about death, it makes you rethink things...how you treated people in the past especially. 

"There used to be a pond outside, where all the flowers now grow." She explains calmly, scooting over slightly so that you and Sabo can both get a clearer look at the garden. There's no obvious signs that it was once a pond of course, but you can easily tell where the water feature once was due to the hundreds of different flowers planted in that one specific area. "She wasn't a very strong swimmer and the weeds underwater got wrapped around her legs, by the time Mihawk noticed that she had gone under, it was too late."

Jesus...what a way to lose a child.

"He, like your brothers, blamed himself." Perona explains, her eyes focusing on Sabo. "So her spirit lingered here, she wanted him to forgive himself but he was a skeptic so he couldn't see nor hear her, she could only move his stuff. However he kept convincing himself that it was him misplacing everything, which made her ghost more desperate, she grew more aggressive in attempts to communicate but naturally, he just assumed that her spirit was angry with him for letting her die so he reached out to me...I knew the second I came here that the ghost was harmless, she was just out of options. So, I set up a way of communication between them, one that didn't result in her breaking his furniture and once he had accepted that she forgave and didn't blame him...she was able to move on." 

"But didn't it hurt him when she left like that?" Sabo asks the pinkette, his gaze fixated on the large bundle of flowers outside as he nervously nibbles on his lower lip. 

"Of course, that's why he has turned her resting place into something beautiful." She smiles as her stare rests upon you, a bittersweet aura radiating from her. "He couldn't save her but he could make her resting place as lively as she once was, you see." 

Those words spring something inside you, maybe that's what helps the man get through the grieving process, he's caring for many other lives now. That must keep him going.

Your mind trails back to the flowers outside the florists, how Sabo smiled at them.

He likes flowers too...maybe I could care for some of his favourites when he fades away. 

It'll be the thing that keeps me close to him in a way.